The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-26

100 pounds of cotton-seed meal con-
tain:
Ammonia .....:........... .......... 500 pounds
PhOSphOr1c acld. ........2lo pouhuS
Potash. 90 POUNDS
100 pounds ashes of hulls contain:
PnfsI5 acid % Pounds
100 pounds kernels contain:
Ammonia: .".:;... ........"........6'M pounas
Phosphoric acid. .........." ........2OO pounds
Potash. Observation-Disclosures. 10 pounds
Now for comparative fertilizing
value of the different forms of COM
ponents. Assuming the commercial
values of the three valuable elements
to be: Ammonia, Is cents per pound;
phosphoric acid, y cents, and potash,
5 cents; and that these prices approx
mately represent the relative agricul-
tural values of the three elements we
have then basis for comparison, as
follows:
100 pounds green cotton seed...... Oslo
nearly 1871 cts. per bu., or $10.24 per ton.
100 pounds hull Observation-Disclosures. 0.O99
s1.9s per ton.
100 pounds cotton seed meal. .............. 1.4S1
or 1902 per ton.
100 pounds OF kernels. observation-disclosures. 1.0S1
or s216s per ton.
100 pounds Of ashes Of hulls. 1.45o
or $500 per ton.
The above estimates, it should be
remembered, are based solely on the
assumed value of three elements, am
monia, phosphric acid and potash. for
fertilizihg purposes. No account is
taken of the value Of any component
part for other uses. The oil is of no
value as a fertilizer as it contains
neither of the three elements. Neither
is any account taken of the mechanical
condition of the different forms of the
cotton seed. 1t is doubtless true that
the crushed seed will give better re-
suits, whether alone or mixed with
acid phosphate, than the whole seed
alone, or mixed with acid phosphate.
The crushed kernels will probably be
somewhat more prompt in action
than the crushed seed. The
ground meal would be more prompt
and effective than either form. The
differences in results in favor of the
crushed kernels, or the ground meal,
us against the whole seed or the
crushed seed. would be due to the diff
ference in mechanical condition and
the degree of concentration, which adj
vantage may be counterbalanced more
or less by the greater quantity of vege-
table matter independent of its con-
tent Of the three valuable elements
contained in the whole and the crushed
seed.
There are so many circumstances,
such as freight, hauling, handling,
ETC., that affect the question. that no
general rule can be made that will
guide in every case in determining the
best way TO utilize the cotton seed in
hand, or in what form it should be
bought. So far as concerns mixing
cotton seed, in any of its forms or
parts. with acid phosphate or kainit, a
farmer can do that for himself sub
stantially as well as the manufacturer,
and thereby save considerable profit.
A farmer should not sell his seed to
an oil mill except on the basis of a
fair exchange, A fair basis would be
to demand of the oil mill in exchange
for 100 pounds of sound, green cotton
seed, not less than IS pounds of
ground meal, or 48 pounds Of
kernels, free of expense to the
farmer on account of freight,
hauling and extra handling. If
farmer wishes to sell his cotton seed
for the cash, and does not propose to
buy cotton-seed meal with the money,
he does losing business if he gets
less than fifteen cents per bushel for
the seed.
In conclusion it may be suggested
that the most practical and ecomical
method of preparing cotton seed on
the farm would be to crush or grind
them in cheaply constructed mill
without removing them from the place
of ginning or from the farm
where produced. Such mill
ought not to cost more
than an ordinary corn and cob crush
er. Separation of the hulls from the
kernel is of no special advantage on
the farm. 1t is better to keep all to-
gether. Let the farmer crush his own
seed and do his own mixing. unless he
can get it done as cheaply as he can
do it himself He will find it 10 his
advantage to buy acid phosphate and
kainit from first hands. Farmers
ought to club together and buy these
materials and mix them at home, saw
ing every intermediate roft-R. j.
Redding, IN Southern Cuttivator